Fall River officials to sit in on Taunton City Council meeting, show their support for trash disposal plan

Charles Winokoor

Tuesday

Aug 31, 2010 at 12:01 AMAug 31, 2010 at 12:47 PM

Welcome back Tip and Will.

Fall River Mayor Will Flanagan, formerly Taunton’s assistant city solicitor and Fall River Corporation Counsel Steven “Tip” Torres, former Taunton solicitor, are expected to attend this week’s City Council meeting to lend their support to Taunton’s Committee on Solid Waste.

Welcome back Tip and Will.

Fall River Mayor Will Flanagan, formerly Taunton’s assistant city solicitor and Fall River Corporation Counsel Steven “Tip” Torres, former Taunton solicitor, are expected to attend this week’s City Council meeting to lend their support to Taunton’s Committee on Solid Waste.

Tonight’s discussion will focus on Taunton’s attempt to establish a trash-to-energy facility to replace its municipal landfill on East Britannia Street, which is slated to close no later than March 2015 or as early as late 2013.

Taunton finds itself in a precarious position. Gov. Deval Patrick and state officials with the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs and Department of Environmental Protection have firmly rejected the city’s bid to build a waste plant capable of producing electricity as a profitable byproduct.

Taunton Mayor Charles Crowley has said that EOEA officials consider the process by which such a facility operates in violation of DEP’s 20-year-old moratorium on new facilities that incinerate solid waste.

In addition, state officials have denied the city the opportunity to pursue permits to develop an ethanol-producing facility — which Crowley said would be less profitable, but more acceptable to the state — because of a gasification process that makes combustion unnecessary.

Crowley has touted that approach as a viable option to electricity production, and in March, the City Council voted to enter into negotiations with Pennsylvania-based Interstate Waste Technologies to secure financing for the $600 million project.

But, although the ethanol technology passes muster with state regulators, Crowley said the state has withheld approval because of unfavorable market conditions within the biofuel industry, which, in turn, makes long-term financing prohibitive.

With either scenario — be it electricity or ethanol — the city, he said, would collect millions of dollars in “tipping,” or royalty fees from other municipalities eager to dispose of their trash in the Silver City. To date, the city has spent at least $5 million on developing the plan, a figure that includes legal and consulting fees and property purchases.

The mayor has also said that if the city isn’t able to open a waste facility by the time the landfill closes, its annual outlay for hauling trash out of the city would be at least $3.5 million.

The city currently spends $1.5 million a year for solid-waste disposal, not factoring in revenue fees from other communities and $900,000 in yearly revenue from the sale of one-dollar municipal garbage bags to residents, according to Crowley.

Torres formerly played an integral role in developing the city’s strategy to build a waste-to-energy facility. He even took two trips to Japan to get an up-close view of a functioning gasification-based trash plant.

According to Torres, the state is missing the boat by denying Taunton the chance to build either an environmentally-friendly, electric-based plant or one that produces ethanol.

“This is environmentally the best solution,” Torres said. “And it’s not just a Taunton issue. It would be a regional solution.”

Torres said that Fall River’s landfill, which has earned the moniker Mount Trashmore, will be forced to close “in a couple years.”

“This is an obvious solution for us (Fall River) to save millions of dollars in the long run,” he said.

Installing a cutting-edge waste facility in Taunton, he contends, has the potential to save commonwealth taxpayers “hundreds of millions of dollars over the next 20 years,” while avoiding out-of-state landfills that continue to produce greenhouse gases.

“It’s time for state officials to realize this ... and time for the nonsense to stop,” Torres said.

“We’ll be there to lend our support for the city of Taunton to get the permits they’re entitled to.”

Mayor Flanagan said that Fall River “looks forward to partnering with Taunton” in order to establish a modern solid waste facility that will benefit the residents of both cities.

“We hope to work jointly to help Taunton secure the permitting it needs,” Flanagan said.

The council has also invited James Binder, of Alternative Resources Inc., Taunton’s engineering consultant, attorney Tino West, members of the city’s Board of Health and representatives of Interstate Waste Technologies and the Taunton Municipal Lighting Plant.

The landfill’s expiration date could be extended from 2013 to 2015 if the health board’s three directors vote to allow another 20-feet of usable height.

Gerald Croteau, the Taunton councilor responsible for the motion to invite Flanagan and Torres, said he “looks forward to a constructive meeting.”

Flanagan, Torres endorse trash-to-energy proposal

By CHARLES WINOKOOR
cwinokoor@tauntongazette.com
TAUNTON — Welcome back Tip and Will.
Fall River Mayor Will Flanagan, formerly Taunton’s assistant city solicitor and Fall River Corporation Counsel Steven “Tip” Torres, former Taunton solicitor, are expected to attend this week’s City Council meeting to lend their support to Taunton’s Committee on Solid Waste.
Tonight’s discussion will focus on Taunton’s attempt to establish a trash-to-energy facility to replace its municipal landfill on East Britannia Street, which is slated to close no later than March 2015 or as early as late 2013.
Taunton finds itself in a precarious position. Gov. Deval Patrick and state officials with the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs and Department of Environmental Protection have firmly rejected the city’s bid to build a waste plant capable of producing electricity as a profitable byproduct.
Taunton Mayor Charles Crowley has said that EOEA officials consider the process by which such a facility operates in violation of DEP’s 20-year-old moratorium on new facilities that incinerate solid waste.
In addition, state officials have denied the city the opportunity to pursue permits to develop an ethanol-producing facility — which Crowley said would be less profitable, but more acceptable to the state — because of a gasification process that makes combustion unnecessary.
Crowley has touted that approach as a viable option to electricity production, and in March, the City Council voted to enter into negotiations with Pennsylvania-based Interstate Waste Technologies to secure financing for the $600 million project.
But, although the ethanol technology passes muster with state regulators, Crowley said the state has withheld approval because of unfavorable market conditions within the biofuel industry, which, in turn, makes long-term financing prohibitive.
With either scenario — be it electricity or ethanol — the city, he said, would collect millions of dollars in “tipping,” or royalty fees from other municipalities eager to dispose of their trash in the Silver City. To date, the city has spent at least $5 million on developing the plan, a figure that includes legal and consulting fees and property purchases.
The mayor has also said that if the city isn’t able to open a waste facility by the time the landfill closes, its annual outlay for hauling trash out of the city would be at least $3.5 million.
The city currently spends $1.5 million a year for solid-waste disposal, not factoring in revenue fees from other communities and $900,000 in yearly revenue from the sale of one-dollar municipal garbage bags to residents, according to Crowley.
Torres formerly played an integral role in developing the city’s strategy to build a waste-to-energy facility. He even took two trips to Japan to get an up-close view of a functioning gasification-based trash plant.
According to Torres, the state is missing the boat by denying Taunton the chance to build either an environmentally-friendly, electric-based plant or one that produces ethanol.
“This is environmentally the best solution,” Torres said. “And it’s not just a Taunton issue. It would be a regional solution.”
Torres said that Fall River’s landfill, which has earned the moniker Mount Trashmore, will be forced to close “in a couple years.”
“This is an obvious solution for us (Fall River) to save millions of dollars in the long run,” he said.
Installing a cutting-edge waste facility in Taunton, he contends, has the potential to save commonwealth taxpayers “hundreds of millions of dollars over the next 20 years,” while avoiding out-of-state landfills that continue to produce greenhouse gases.
“It’s time for state officials to realize this ... and time for the nonsense to stop,” Torres said.
“We’ll be there to lend our support for the city of Taunton to get the permits they’re entitled to.”
Mayor Flanagan said that Fall River “looks forward to partnering with Taunton” in order to establish a modern solid waste facility that will benefit the residents of both cities.
“We hope to work jointly to help Taunton secure the permitting it needs,” Flanagan said.
The council has also invited James Binder, of Alternative Resources Inc., Taunton’s engineering consultant, attorney Tino West, members of the city’s Board of Health and representatives of Interstate Waste Technologies and the Taunton Municipal Lighting Plant.
The landfill’s expiration date could be extended from 2013 to 2015 if the health board’s three directors vote to allow another 20-feet of usable height.
Gerald Croteau, the Taunton councilor responsible for the motion to invite Flanagan and Torres, said he “looks forward to a constructive meeting.”

Flanagan, Torres endorse trash-to-energy proposal

By CHARLES WINOKOOR

cwinokoor@tauntongazette.com

TAUNTON — Welcome back Tip and Will.

Fall River Mayor Will Flanagan, formerly Taunton’s assistant city solicitor and Fall River Corporation Counsel Steven “Tip” Torres, former Taunton solicitor, are expected to attend this week’s City Council meeting to lend their support to Taunton’s Committee on Solid Waste.

Tonight’s discussion will focus on Taunton’s attempt to establish a trash-to-energy facility to replace its municipal landfill on East Britannia Street, which is slated to close no later than March 2015 or as early as late 2013.

Taunton finds itself in a precarious position. Gov. Deval Patrick and state officials with the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs and Department of Environmental Protection have firmly rejected the city’s bid to build a waste plant capable of producing electricity as a profitable byproduct.

Taunton Mayor Charles Crowley has said that EOEA officials consider the process by which such a facility operates in violation of DEP’s 20-year-old moratorium on new facilities that incinerate solid waste.

In addition, state officials have denied the city the opportunity to pursue permits to develop an ethanol-producing facility — which Crowley said would be less profitable, but more acceptable to the state — because of a gasification process that makes combustion unnecessary.

Crowley has touted that approach as a viable option to electricity production, and in March, the City Council voted to enter into negotiations with Pennsylvania-based Interstate Waste Technologies to secure financing for the $600 million project.

But, although the ethanol technology passes muster with state regulators, Crowley said the state has withheld approval because of unfavorable market conditions within the biofuel industry, which, in turn, makes long-term financing prohibitive.

With either scenario — be it electricity or ethanol — the city, he said, would collect millions of dollars in “tipping,” or royalty fees from other municipalities eager to dispose of their trash in the Silver City. To date, the city has spent at least $5 million on developing the plan, a figure that includes legal and consulting fees and property purchases.

The mayor has also said that if the city isn’t able to open a waste facility by the time the landfill closes, its annual outlay for hauling trash out of the city would be at least $3.5 million.

The city currently spends $1.5 million a year for solid-waste disposal, not factoring in revenue fees from other communities and $900,000 in yearly revenue from the sale of one-dollar municipal garbage bags to residents, according to Crowley.

Torres formerly played an integral role in developing the city’s strategy to build a waste-to-energy facility. He even took two trips to Japan to get an up-close view of a functioning gasification-based trash plant.

According to Torres, the state is missing the boat by denying Taunton the chance to build either an environmentally-friendly, electric-based plant or one that produces ethanol.

“This is environmentally the best solution,” Torres said. “And it’s not just a Taunton issue. It would be a regional solution.”

Torres said that Fall River’s landfill, which has earned the moniker Mount Trashmore, will be forced to close “in a couple years.”

“This is an obvious solution for us (Fall River) to save millions of dollars in the long run,” he said.

Installing a cutting-edge waste facility in Taunton, he contends, has the potential to save commonwealth taxpayers “hundreds of millions of dollars over the next 20 years,” while avoiding out-of-state landfills that continue to produce greenhouse gases.

“It’s time for state officials to realize this ... and time for the nonsense to stop,” Torres said.

“We’ll be there to lend our support for the city of Taunton to get the permits they’re entitled to.”

Mayor Flanagan said that Fall River “looks forward to partnering with Taunton” in order to establish a modern solid waste facility that will benefit the residents of both cities.

“We hope to work jointly to help Taunton secure the permitting it needs,” Flanagan said.

The council has also invited James Binder, of Alternative Resources Inc., Taunton’s engineering consultant, attorney Tino West, members of the city’s Board of Health and representatives of Interstate Waste Technologies and the Taunton Municipal Lighting Plant.

The landfill’s expiration date could be extended from 2013 to 2015 if the health board’s three directors vote to allow another 20-feet of usable height.

Gerald Croteau, the Taunton councilor responsible for the motion to invite Flanagan and Torres, said he “looks forward to a constructive meeting.”

Flanagan, Torres endorse trash-to-energy proposal

By CHARLES WINOKOOR
cwinokoor@tauntongazette.com
TAUNTON — Welcome back Tip and Will.
Fall River Mayor Will Flanagan, formerly Taunton’s assistant city solicitor and Fall River Corporation Counsel Steven “Tip” Torres, former Taunton solicitor, are expected to attend this week’s City Council meeting to lend their support to Taunton’s Committee on Solid Waste.
Tonight’s discussion will focus on Taunton’s attempt to establish a trash-to-energy facility to replace its municipal landfill on East Britannia Street, which is slated to close no later than March 2015 or as early as late 2013.
Taunton finds itself in a precarious position. Gov. Deval Patrick and state officials with the Executive Office of Environmental Affairs and Department of Environmental Protection have firmly rejected the city’s bid to build a waste plant capable of producing electricity as a profitable byproduct.
Taunton Mayor Charles Crowley has said that EOEA officials consider the process by which such a facility operates in violation of DEP’s 20-year-old moratorium on new facilities that incinerate solid waste.
In addition, state officials have denied the city the opportunity to pursue permits to develop an ethanol-producing facility — which Crowley said would be less profitable, but more acceptable to the state — because of a gasification process that makes combustion unnecessary.
Crowley has touted that approach as a viable option to electricity production, and in March, the City Council voted to enter into negotiations with Pennsylvania-based Interstate Waste Technologies to secure financing for the $600 million project.
But, although the ethanol technology passes muster with state regulators, Crowley said the state has withheld approval because of unfavorable market conditions within the biofuel industry, which, in turn, makes long-term financing prohibitive.
With either scenario — be it electricity or ethanol — the city, he said, would collect millions of dollars in “tipping,” or royalty fees from other municipalities eager to dispose of their trash in the Silver City. To date, the city has spent at least $5 million on developing the plan, a figure that includes legal and consulting fees and property purchases.
The mayor has also said that if the city isn’t able to open a waste facility by the time the landfill closes, its annual outlay for hauling trash out of the city would be at least $3.5 million.
The city currently spends $1.5 million a year for solid-waste disposal, not factoring in revenue fees from other communities and $900,000 in yearly revenue from the sale of one-dollar municipal garbage bags to residents, according to Crowley.
Torres formerly played an integral role in developing the city’s strategy to build a waste-to-energy facility. He even took two trips to Japan to get an up-close view of a functioning gasification-based trash plant.
According to Torres, the state is missing the boat by denying Taunton the chance to build either an environmentally-friendly, electric-based plant or one that produces ethanol.
“This is environmentally the best solution,” Torres said. “And it’s not just a Taunton issue. It would be a regional solution.”
Torres said that Fall River’s landfill, which has earned the moniker Mount Trashmore, will be forced to close “in a couple years.”
“This is an obvious solution for us (Fall River) to save millions of dollars in the long run,” he said.
Installing a cutting-edge waste facility in Taunton, he contends, has the potential to save commonwealth taxpayers “hundreds of millions of dollars over the next 20 years,” while avoiding out-of-state landfills that continue to produce greenhouse gases.
“It’s time for state officials to realize this ... and time for the nonsense to stop,” Torres said.
“We’ll be there to lend our support for the city of Taunton to get the permits they’re entitled to.”
Mayor Flanagan said that Fall River “looks forward to partnering with Taunton” in order to establish a modern solid waste facility that will benefit the residents of both cities.
“We hope to work jointly to help Taunton secure the permitting it needs,” Flanagan said.
The council has also invited James Binder, of Alternative Resources Inc., Taunton’s engineering consultant, attorney Tino West, members of the city’s Board of Health and representatives of Interstate Waste Technologies and the Taunton Municipal Lighting Plant.
The landfill’s expiration date could be extended from 2013 to 2015 if the health board’s three directors vote to allow another 20-feet of usable height.
Gerald Croteau, the Taunton councilor responsible for the motion to invite Flanagan and Torres, said he “looks forward to a constructive meeting.”

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